Nestled in downtown Los Angeles is a little taste of Americana, offering up kicked-up, classic diner fare. This is the second location, with the original located not too far away, in K-town.
Cassell’s is a full-serve restaurant with an array of offerings that’ll please both young and old. I love the simple, vintage feel of the interior, as well as the nostalgic menu with modern twists.
We try many items, including B’Fast Burger ($13.75) a burger using breakfast ingredients to create the ‘sandwich’. Crispy hash brown-rounds create a ‘bun’ to envelop a burger patty cooked to your desired temperature. The hash brown is a tad overcooked, but I prefer that over under-cooked. Topped with a fried egg, spicy mayo, your choice of cheese — cheddar, Swiss, or American — and finished with fresh avocado. I am surprised by how tasty it is, albeit, a bit on the heavy side. I suggest sharing it with a friend.
I am not generally a fan of burgers, but I am smitten by the Cheeseburger ($11.75) here. A ⅓ lb house-ground premium beef patty is cooked to a perfect medium (what we asked for) and topped with cheddar — you can also choose Swiss or American cheese — and served on a Portuguese bun.
Lettuce, onion, pickles, and tomato are served on the side. I am very picky when it comes to burgers because more often than not, the patty and bun aren’t proportionate. Here, the bun to meat ratio is not only good, but the bread is strong enough to hold the patty, without overwhelm it. A solid burger!
Those looking for a sandwich may want to choose Tuna Melt ($13.95) generously stuffed with house-poached albacore tuna salad with your choice of cheese. The bread is toasted well, leaving a lovely crunch to the bread. I took several bites, but did not want to hog my friend’s lunch.
I am always looking for a decent salad to complement my meals with and found the Cobb Salad ($12.50) to be excellent. The best part of this is that it isn’t your usual Cobb. I love that Cassell’s uses mixed greens as its base instead of iceberg or Romaine. It is tossed in a beautiful lemon vinaigrette and topped with ham, egg, tomato, avocado, and feta. I would absolutely order this again.
Looking for a side? Then look no further than Sweet Potato Waffle Fries ($5.50). Naturally sweet, and utterly addicting.
Don’t leave without trying one of the pies. I didn’t think I’d like the desserts since I’m not a fan of sweets, but I was completely blown away by the Cranberry Pomegranate Hand Pie ($7). The flaky buttery crust is filled with sour cranberries macerated in orange and brown sugar mixed with pomegranate seeds. The combination of the tart filling with the gorgeous crust is stunning. I couldn’t stop eating it.
I didn’t think I’d like the Dulce de Leche Banana Cream Pie ($7) thinking the dulce de leche would make it too sweet for my palate, but I was wrong. It was absolute perfection! Fresh bananas are layered on top of a graham cracker crust with dulce de leche and whipped cream creating one of the best desserts I’ve had in a long time.
If you’re in downtown LA, stop by Cassell’s even if it’s just for the pie. It’ll be well worth your time!
Cassell’s Hamburgers
421 W 8th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Tel: 213-372-5601
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